Nasopharyngoscopic evaluation and cephalometric analysis of velopharynx in normal and cleft palate patients

The velopharyngeal dimensions and velopharyngeal functions of 58 patients having a cleft lip and palate were compared with those of 30 normal noncleft subjects. The patient group received perceptual speech assessment, nasopharyngoscopic examination, and lateral cephalogram, and was classified accordingly into three categories: velopharyngeal competency, borderline velopharyngeal competency, and velopharyngeal incompetency. The results indicated that (1) the need ratio differs significantly among the three cleft palate patient groups and (2) when compared to the control group, the velopharyngeal incompetency group has an excessive need ratio, narrower posterior pharyngeal wall, narrower linear dimensions in pharyngeal depth, and shorter velar and hard-palate length. The clinical implication and application of the findings are discussed.